Creating the right conditions in schools for learning to take hold, begins by building an inclusive community, and shaping school culture and climate to reflect the diverse needs of students and families over time. The Midwest Center for School Transformation (MCST) exists out of a need for education solutions to be centered by and in community. Often, when solutions are applied by school districts or school sites they are done so without buy-in, implementation fidelity or accountability and predictably fall prey to the political winds of resource shortages and educational trends vs improving the educational experiences for students, staff and families.

MCST believes that to engage students academically the conditions must be right for learning.

Conditions for Learning: Ways of Being, Ways of Knowing and Ways of Doing

Responsive: Understanding the unique needs and circumstances of students, families and staff and adapting to those needs in real time 

Relevant: Understanding and connecting the dots between students lived experiences and the curriculum and content taught in the classroom creating cultural congruence between school communities and home 

Relational: Understanding that relationships equal academic currency and the foundation of a strong relationship begins with building trust (student to teacher, peer to peer, teacher to administrator, teacher to parent/family) 

Restorative: Understanding that promoting healthy and reciprocal relationships is central to creating open dialogue, accountability, and a stronger sense of community

Reflective: Understanding that the ongoing exploration of any belief or practice is necessary to improve learning conditions and long-term outcomes

MCST exists to promote the culture, climate, and conditions necessary to transform learning, teaching, and education. Most of MCST’s work occurs through collective and collaborative projects spanning the educational ecosystem. Within MCST is the Youth Initiatives for Justice Project (YI4J) which supports youth-led efforts through a cohort model and advisory, providing participant stipends, technology and device support, and project mini-grants.

Current Projects:

Youthtalk Virtual Roundtables

This online series led by youth provides the space for conversation and curiosity around Black Liberation and Justice. This roundtable format includes interviews, perfomances, readings, and panels all at a virtual roundtable where both action and healing area at the forefront. While the Youthtalk Roundtable centers Twin Cities youth - we also engage with youth from across the country and around the world to build and bridge idea exchanges, and learn from others on how Black liberation and Justice connects us all.

Youth-Led Response to the Murder of George Floyd

A six-month cohort for participants to explore ways to impact their local community and schools, as well as connect with youth across the country doing justice work.

Police Free Schools MN

A statewide youth-led effort to remove the physical of police in schools and to eliminate an overly punitive, and criminalizing culture in school, by leading presence with alternatives and solutions that are community-driven through organizing youth across the state of Minnesota to be a part of the change in their school community.

Dignity in Schools (DSC) National Week of Action Against School Pushout 

From October 3rd-11th, 2020 DSC members in more than 20 states including Minnesota will host events as part of their 11th Annual National Week of Action Against School Pushout. Local and community-based organizations will hold rallies, teach-ins, listening sessions, meet the candidate forums, unveil murals, lead marches, and more; taking a stand against punitive, zero-tolerance discipline policies and calling for the end of the regular presence of police officers in schools.

846 Collective 

We hold intergenerational space focused on healing. We provide a self-care space for community to check in, process, support and create together as an intergenerational collective where youth and elders share wisdom and guidance during these times. We meet on the first Thursday of every month to share, connect, restore, engage, and build community. For more information or if you are interested in participating please email koinonialeadershipacademy@gmail.com

MCST Partners:

We partner with the Empowered to be Me program with girls of African Heritage. MCST is a member of the national Dignity in Schools campaign and has served on its leadership committee for 5 years. MCST partners with InEqualityon the Ramsey County and St. Paul Public Schools Juvenile Justice Learning Project. MCST is a co-founder of the Education for Liberation Network Minnesota Chapter focused on increasing teachers of color and Indigenous teachers and ethnic/heritage studies in MN schools. MCST is a co-founder of the Coalition to Stop the Cradle to Prison Algorithm. MCST supports the Minnesota Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition. 

Additional Services Provided by MCST:

• Produce community scholarship that is inclusive and accessible to a broad group of stakeholders

• School Climate Assessment

• Community Engagement

• Community Participatory Action Research and Evaluation

• Education Leadership Coaching and Training

• Charter School Board Training

• Educational learning exchanges 

Engage for Equity ESSA Toolkit 

In 2017 the Midwest Center for School Transformation (MCST) worked with national partners across the country, including the NAACP LDF, Council of Chief State School Officers, Dignity in Schools Campaign to design a toolkit in service to the new education law of the land -the Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) passed in 2015 by the Obama administration replacing No Child Left Behind. This toolkit is for education advocates, youth, parents and families across the county trying to engage at the local level on the Every Student Succeeds Act. MCST hosted local focus groups across the Twin Cities to pilot the toolkit and equipped 75 community members with resources for organizers to use with families, youth and the broader school community to Educate, Empower, and Act! This toolkit continues to carve a path for communities to hold local schools and districts accountable.

In partnership with Dr. Talaya Tolefree of Koinonia Leadership Academy, Marika Pfefferkorn, Midwest Center for School Transformation (MCST) contributed a blog post for the University of Minnesota Gender Policy Report highlighting local efforts to work with school leaders and communities in adopting and implementing restorative practices with fidelity and centering a racial equity framework developed by Dr. Tolefree. The Blog features lessons learned from working directly with local schools in the Twin Cities.

For more information on services please email a request to info@tciamn.org